Assigwob to the wxley



E A. BICKFORD.

METHOD OF MAKING SLIPPERS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.3 .19l5- lL 1 942, 16? Patented Aug. 15, 1916;

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ERNEST A. BICKFQRD, 0F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE WILEY- BICKFORD-SWEET 00., OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAS- SAGHUSETTS.

IIIETHOD OF MAKING SLIPPERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patentcdrtug. 15, 1916.

Application filed August 31, 1915. Serial No. 48,216.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ennns'r A. Bronrono, a citizen of the United States, residing at lill orcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new :and useful Method of Making Slippers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a method of :rnaking slippers and, while not strictly con- "fined thereto, is particularly adapted for use in making slippers almost entirely of felt.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a simple and practical method of attaching an outsole to a slipper blank which preferably is formed of a single piece of material, so that the insole and upper are integral with each other throughout; and also a method which can be carried out with the addition of a cushion without complicating the manufacture or materially increasing the expense.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which-'- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a felt blank from which the slipper is to be made; Fig. 2 is a cross section of the same shown bottom side up and showing the first step in the method after the blank is formed; Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the outsole stitched on; Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the next step, the application of the cushion; and Fig. 5 is a cross section of the complete slipper.

Fig. 1 shows simply a felt blank from which the slipper is to be made. This, as

shown, consists of a single integral piece offelt embodying an upper A and an insole B. This article is formed at a single operation by a felting process, and preferably 'the insole is made of the same thickness and texture as the upper. In order to manufacture a slipper from this blank as shown in Fig. 2 the insole is slit from end to end.

This makes two flaps of the insole which can be turned up as shown more especially in Fig. 3. This is taken advantage of for the purpose of applying the outsole I). This outsole may be of leather, felt, or any other desired material, and may be soft, hard, thick or thin as desired. In any case when applied as shown in this figure, it is inserted through the slit and its edges are stitched to the blank AB along the boundry line between the insole and upper respectively 21, 6., the line where they merge,

In the case shown in the drawing this outsole is of a comparatively thin leather, and consequently its edge can be turned up and in slightly in order to sew it.

Another step in the preferredembodiment of the invention is indicated in Fig. 4, in which a cushion E is placed in over the outsole but it is not necessarily secured thereto or to the insole. This cushion may be formed of a thick layer of cotton, wool, or other soft material. This having been placed in position the slit edges of the insole are sewed together from end to end and then the slipper is turned and the product shown in Fig. 5 is the result. It will be seen that this results in an article in which there is not necessarily any seam between the insole and upper, and consequently no stitches are likely to come out at that point. Furthermore, the insole preferably is integral and continuous with the upper, thus forming a convenience in manufacture, reducing the cost, and leaving a smooth bottom which can be covered if desired as is understood in this art. Another great advantage is that the only seam between either of the soles and the upper is located inside the shoe where it cannot come to wear and cannot be seen from the outside, and this is a seam not between two edges but between one edge of the outsole and the body of felt. In this way an expeditious method of manufacture is provided and one which produces an extremely neat and durable article at a comparatively small expense.

It will be understood, of course, that in the manufacture of the slipper the cushion can be omitted if desired in certain classes of slippers or it can be secured to or form a part of the outsole before the latter is placed in position, and the same procedure can be carried out with a blank in which the insole and upper are sewed together.

Although I have illustrated only one form of the invention I am aware of the fact that many modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore I do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction herein shown and described, but

What I do claim is 1. The method of making a slipper which comprises turning a slipper blank comprising an upper and insole, slitting the insole longitudinally, inserting an outsole member through the slit, and securing its edges to the blank along the line Where the upper and insole merge.

2. The method of making a slipper which comprises turning a slipper blank Wrong side out, said blank comprising an upper and insole, slitting the insole longitudinally from end to end, inserting an outsole member right side up through the slit, stitching the edges of the outsole member to the blank, then sewing up the slit and again turning the slipper to bring it right side out.

3. The method of makingfa slipper which comprises forming a slipper blank of a single piece of felt integral throughout and comprising an upper and insole of substantially the same thickness and texture, turning said blank wrong side out and bringing the insole to the top, slitting the insole cento the blank along the line where the upper and insole merge, placing a soft, relatively thick cushion between the outsole and insolo, and then sewing together the slit edges of the insole, and again turning the blank.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ERNEST A. BICKFORD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

